J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ.

9(1): 141–146, 2011 ISSN 1810-3030

An economic study of small scale cattle fattening enterprise of

Rajbari district
P. K. Sarma and J. U. Ahmed1
Bangladesh Agricultural University Research System (BAURES), Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-
1
2202, Bangladesh, E-mail: paresh_ks@yahoo.com, sharmapk73@gmail.com and Department of Agricultural
Economics, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet

Abstract
The small scale cattle fattening enterprise is represents an important component of the agribusiness sector of the
economy with great economic, income, poverty reduction and social implications. A large number of farmers involved
in cattle fattening just before 3 or 4 months of Eid-ul-Azha (Muslim festival), when they sell the animals with profitable
prices. Cattle fattening for beef production have become an important business of the small farmers in Bangladesh.
This study examined the profitability as well as operational economics efficiency of cattle fattening enterprise of
Rajbari District. Data used to achieve this objective was obtained from 120 nomadic farmers, which were randomly
selected using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were generated using a survey schedule as well as direct
observation (cost-route method). Descriptive statistics, economics analysis as well as operational efficiency index
were used to analyze the data. Results showed that small scale cattle fattening enterprise were profitable and
flexible. A net enterprise income of BDT 5559 per cattle was realized by an average enterprise in study area. It was
also shown that operational efficiency was not generally high among the entrepreneur. Based on these results, the
study advised less efficient entrepreneurs to adopt the practices of the efficient ones in order to make the enterprise
more profitable. The study shows that small scale cattle fattening enterprise is profitable due to agribusiness context.
Farmers used three years old cattle for beef fattening. Cattle fattening period is 4.5 months in rural study areas of
Rajbari district in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Economic efficiency, Cattle farming, Profitability

Introduction
Bangladesh is a low-lying densely populated country of more than 150 million people, 75% of who live in
rural areas; rural poverty rate is 63%, of which 36% are extreme poor (Hodson R. 2006). Livestock are an
integral component of agriculture in the study area and make multifaceted contributions to the growth and
development in the agricultural sectors. Small scale cattle fattening is an important avenue for income
generation for mainly subsistence farmers in Rajbari District. Cattle farming are an important subsidiary to
agriculture and playing a significant role in rural economy in Bangladesh (Hashem et. al. 1999).The
livestock resources of Bangladesh are mainly based on cattle, goat, sheep, buffalo, and poultry. Although
cattle concentration per unit area is high, their productivity is low mainly due to inadequate feed supply
and low genetic potentiality ( Pandit 2005). As a result their growth performance is very poor. During the
holy Eid-Al Azha festival. Muslims always go for Kurbani (sacrificing slaughtered livestock). Animals
including cows, goats, camels and sheep are slaughtered each year to mark the festival. The meat is then
distributed, with one-third meat by the immediate family and relatives, one-third given away to friends,
and one-third donated to the poor. Bangladesh has the world's third largest Muslim-majority population.
Bangladeshi Muslims celebrate the Eid in every year. About 1.8 million cattle are sacrificed at this time
each year (Sujan et. al. 2011). Cattle fattening for beef production have become an important business of
the small farmers in Bangladesh. In some areas of Bangladesh a small scale commercial cattle fattening
program has already been started. Straw is the important crop residue; contribute the major portion of the
fibrous part of the diet of the beef cattle. Rice straw is the basal feed for ruminants with low nutritive value
and low digestibility. Farmers use rice straw of traditional varieties, green grass, sugarcane tops, wheat
and rice bran, molasses, pulse bran and locally available resources such as pumpkin, carrot, banana,
vegetable by products, rice gruel, boiled rice bran, oil cakes etc for beef fattening. The chemical treatment
of straw is the most effective and economic method to improving the quality. Straw is mainly treated with
urea and molasses and in some cases chemical treatment also done by the farmers. Urea molasses
straw treatment in beef cattle resulted higher body weight, dressing percentage and also in better carcass
quality than untreated straw.
142 Economic study of small scale cattle fattening enterprise

The acute shortage of feeds and fodder has long been identified as a serious constraint to optimum
livestock production in Bangladesh (Saadullah.1995). It is an ancient, vital and renewable natural
resource. Increase socio-economic conditions of Cattle farmer; create employment opportunities for rural
unemployed and landless people. Livestock is contributing up to 80 percent of agricultural GDP; 600
million rural poor people rely on livestock for their livelihoods in our country. Livestock not only sources of
food and income but also the main three pathway of poverty (1) securing the assets of the poor, (2)
improving smallholder and pastoral productivity and (3) increasing market participation by the poor. A
large number of farmers involved in bull fattening just before 3 or 4 months of Eid-Ul-Azha (Muslim
festival), when they sell the animals with profitable prices. A cattle farming is a way of rearing cattle for
profitable production of meat. Cattle fattening package is a four-steps rearing programme of male and/or
infertile female emaciated cattle for harvesting their compensatory growth within a period of 60 to 120
days. Collection of animals considering their body characteristics followed by deworming and feeding cost
effectively up to a profitable rate of live weight gain and marketing them readily are the four major factors
to make the fattening package profitable. It is an easy and profitable system of cattle rearing to alleviate
poverty, unemployment and generate income both for the rural people. Therefore, the present study has
been undertaken specially’
1. To identify the socioeconomic characteristics of cattle fattening farmers of the study areas.
2. To determinate of the economics efficiency of small scale cattle fattening farms in the study area.

Materials and Methods

The present study was conducted at three Upazilas of Rajbari district viz, Pangsha, Rajbari sadar and
Baliakandi. Data were collected during September to November 2010. Covering 120 small scale cattle
fattening farm. Each upazila equally selected 40 farms by using purposive sampling technique and survey
questionnaire. Collected data were organized structured and analyzed in accordance of the objectives set
for the study by using different model, tabular method as well as using simple descriptive statistical tools
are techniques by using Microsoft Excel and SPSS program.
Measurement of Costs and Returns: The cost benefit analysis is determinants of economic analysis
was modeled in terms of direct, indirect cost and returning variables and other factors considering of
cattle fattening farm in the study area. The economic analyzed the determinants;
TC = DC + IC(Total Cost = Directcost + Indirect Cost)
TR = Total Return = DR + IR = Direct Return + Indircet Return
NM(Net Margin) = TR − TC = Total Return − Total Cost
Measurement of Economic Efficiency: Economic efficiency is a term typically used in microeconomics
when discussing product. It is the study of cattle fattening entrepreneur maximizes the use of their
socioeconomic inputs so as to maximize the production of goods and services. Production of a unit of
good is considered to be economically efficient when that unit of good is produced at the lowest possible
cost. In the present study, the determinants of economic efficiency were modeled in terms of socio-
economics variables of the cattle fattening farmers and other factors. The economic efficiency in the
model was simultaneously estimated with their determinants (Okoye et.al. 2007);
Economics Efficiency:
Ei = α 0 + β1X1 + β 2 X 2 + β 3 X 3 + β 4 X 4 + β 5 X 5 + β 6 X 6 + β 7 X 7 + β 8 X 8 + β 9 X 9 − − − − − − − (1)
Where
Ei is the economic efficiency of ith cattle fattening farm.
α 0 is the intercept
X1 = Farmer sex (Male or Female) X2 = Cattle fattening farmers age in year
X3 = Cattle fattening farmers educational level. X4 = Farming experience in year
X5 = Farm size (Base on number of cattle) X6 = Household size
X7 = Capital use of farming of cattle fattening X8 = Use of fertilizer
X9 = Extensional visit
and β 1 , β 2 , β 3 , β 4 , β 5 , β 6 , β 7 , β 8 and β 9 are the regression parameters to be estimated.
Sarma and Ahmed 143

Results and Discussion

Socioeconomic Characteristics of Cattle fattening farmers of the study areas: Table 1 shows the
socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents. From the data generated from the field survey, and the
frequency distribution of the respondents according to sex, age, education, farming experience, farm size
and household size. Seventy four percent of the respondents were females while 31% were males. This
implies that women constitute a greater percentage of those involved in cattle farm production in the
study area. About 50 percent of the farmers comprise those that have attained the age of fifty years and
above, a farmer's age affects her efficiency in performing farm management decisions. A cattle farming is
less laborious than other root and tuber crops and dose not require a lot of physical strength. Forty five
percent of the farmers had no formal education, while only 17.5% attended primary school. Educated
farmers are expected to be more receptive to improved farming techniques (Okoye et. al. 2007). About
12.5% of the respondents had less than 5 years of farming experience while 87.5% had more than 5
years of farming experience.
Table 1. Distribution of Cattle Farmers according to their sex, age, education, farmer experience,
farm size and household size
Variable Frequency Percentage (%)
Sex
Male 31 25.83
Female 89 74.20
Total 120 100
Age(In year) Frequency Percentage (%)
24-29 5 4.16
30-35 6 5.00
36-40 11 9.17
41-45 14 11.17
46-50 17 14.17
>50 67 55.83
Total 120 100
Mean 50 yrs
Educational level Frequency Percentage (%)
No Schooling 54 45.00
Primary 21 17.50
Secondary 31 25.83
Tertiary 14 11.70
Total 120 100
Mean 6.3 yrs
Farming Experience(Year) Frequency Percentage (%)
<5 15 12.50
5-10 48 40.00
11-16 17 14.17
17-22 20 16.60
>22 20 16.60
Total 120 100.00
Mean 13.35 yrs
Farm size (ha.) Frequency Percentage (%)
.01-0.05 54 45.00
.0.06-.10 3 2.50
0.20-0.60 52 43.20
0.70-1.00 9 7.50
1 ha and Above 2 1.70
Total 120 100
Mean .027 ha
Household Size (Number) Frequency Percentage (%)
2-4 2 1.67
5-7 23 19.17
8-10 7 5.83
11-13 16 13.33
>10 72 60.00
Total 120 100.00
Mean 12 (Persons)
144 Economic study of small scale cattle fattening enterprise

The mean farming experience was 13% years farmers are therefore described as experienced and are
expected to have higher efficiency. Forty eight percent of the respondents have cattle farmer holdings of
less than 0.1 ha. This implies that cattle production in the study area is dominated by small scale
production given the average farm size of 0.27%ha for the area. The data on table1 also depicts that a
large parentage (98%) of the respondents have household size of 5 persons and above while less than
2% have household size of less than 5 persons.

Costs and returns to the Cattle fattening enterprise: The costs incurring from cattle fattening were into
main components as direct and indirect cost. Direct cost of cattle fattening comprised various variable
costs such as cost of cattle, feeder, feed, healthcare services etc (Mulla,NI 1997).On the other hand
indirect costs covered depreciation of interested of capital and equipment such as durable Drinkers,
Spade, Bucket, Rakes, wage of labour etc. The significant contribution of cattle fattening activity as
supplemental income source was obviously seen. Table 2 shows that on the average cost of cattle
fattening is Tk 16316 and return Tk 21875 per cattle. After 3-4 months rearing of cattle through fattening
technology, farmer obtained profit Tk 5559 per cattle. It implies that cattle fattening enterprise is profitable
alternative income opportunities in rural areas. Most of the participating farms were satisfied with the
supplemental net income earning from cattle fattening with short duration.

Table 2. Cost and return of cattle fattening per cattle in the study area
Production Cost (BDT) Average Return (BDT) Average
Cost Items <5 >10 cost Return Items <5 Cattle >10 Return
Cattle Cattle (BDT) Cattle (BDT)
Direct Cost: Direct Return:
Purchase of Cattle before 45810 89620 9029
fattening
Purchased feed 17360 31670 3269 Selling price of 99673 199240 19928
fattened Cattle
vet& medicine 2875 4137 467 Sales of 6914 11379 1220
manure
Salt/Potash 750 1278 135 By product 3250 7680 728
sales
Fertilizer 335 746 72
Rent 1355 2689 270
seed/plants
Indirect Cost: Indirect Return
Interest on Capital 5726 11202 1129 Cow/Bulk Sell
Labor 7890 17780 1711
Depreciation 1145 2370 234
Total Cost= 83246 161492 Total Return= 109837 31785
Average Cost = 16316 Average Return = 21875
Net Margin 5559
Source: Field survey data 2010

Economic efficiency: Table 3 shows the result of the factors influencing economic efficiency of cattle
fattening farming in the study area. The coefficient of age, education experience and farm size were
highly significant at 1.0% level of probability. This implies that age, education and farm size had a
negative relationship with economics efficiency among the farmers sampled. The older a farmer
becomes, the more he or she is unable to combine his or her resources in an optional manner given the
available technology. Most of the farmers had little or no education which implies that education is not
costless but requires investment. Lack of education might not be regarded as a factor causing
inefficiency.
Sarma and Ahmed 145

Only if it is costless could we say that it would contribute to improvement in efficiency. This goes against
the findings; the increasing year of formal education increases a farmer’s level of allocative and technical
efficiency which improved their economic efficiency.

Table 3. Determinants of Economic efficiency of Cattle fattening farming

Variables Parameter Coefficient Standard Error t-value
Constant term α0 -1.9336 0.9670 -1.9996
Farmers sex X1 -0.04456 0.0162 -2.8211
Farmer age X2 -0.0895 0.0319 -2.8064
Farmers educational level X3 0.0235 0.0750 0.3133
Farming experience X4 0.0146 0.0412 0.3563
Farm size X5 -5.1097 1.0561 -4.8383
Household size X6 0.0533 0.0220 2.4258
Capital use for farming X7 1.0309 0.4036 2.5542
Use of fertilizer X8 1.0813 0.4730 2.5130
Extensional visit X9 0.0219 0.063 0.3213
Source: Field survey data 2010
Extension visit, family size and credit access were positively signed but were not significant. Fertilizer use
was positively signed and significant at 5.0% level of probability. This implies that farmers who use
fertilizer were economically efficient. Membership of cooperatives was negatively signed but not
significant even at 10% level of probability.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Cattle fattening enterprise is a potential and effective option for poor and extreme poor and gained
prominence as an important agribusiness sector of agriculture in Bangladesh. It gives the farmer year
round work and provides him with extra income. In the study area, cattle fattening could play a vital role in
poverty reduction, creation of self employment opportunities in rural areas and animal protein supply. The
small scale cattle fattening enterprise is a profitable venture in the study area. The major findings and
recommendation of the study could be summarized and presented as follow;
1. There were no competition between the cattle fattening activity and major crop production in using
family labour and land resources. The major farm output like sugar cane and rice were not affected by
the introduction of backyard cattle fattening operation.
2. Cattle fattening was able to additional income and generate the employment for farm household
members, especially the unemployed family members like housewife and old persons. These
enterprises increased the labour productivity and employment of family members in rural area.
3. The major constraint for the participating farm households to continue the cattle fattening by their own
support or browning money with high interest rate from NGOs due to shortage of investment fund due
to a relatively high investment cost of cattle fattening as compared to their annual income.
4. The important factors indirectly related to economic efficiency are age, education, farm size, farm
experience and fertilizer use. These results call for policies aimed at encouraging new entrants
especially the entrepreneur of cattle fattening farms.
5. Cattle fattening entrepreneur should be enlighten on how to access credit in order to increase their
capital base to expand their scale of production.
6. Cattle farmer is a need to enlighten fatteners on the importance of weighting their animals at purchase
and at regular interval until they are finally disposed.
7. To have effective agribusiness strategies that provides guidance to steer the agribusiness
development process. Such support services and establishment policy and legislation mobilize
stakeholders in the agribusiness of cattle fattening sector and deliver market driven agro-food products
through an accreditation process.
8. To have dynamic public and private finance and investment programs that help to stimulate growth
and expansion of the agribusiness of Cattle fattening sector of Bangladesh.
146 Economic study of small scale cattle fattening enterprise

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